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UPDATE: Police Investigate Drugs, Chemicals Found in Treesdale Home, Chief Says

Northern Regional police responded to Condor Lane home initially for report of an underage drinking party at home owned by model for vodka company.

 

A call to a Treesdale home at about 1 a.m. Saturday for an underage drinking party turned into a major investigation that uncovered illegal drugs and chemicals that might be used for explosives, according to Northern Regional Police Chief Bob Amann.

In addition, a 20-year-old man was hospitalized after police said they found him unresponsive and incoherent in the game room of the house in the 2000 block of Condor Lane in Pine Township, Amann said at a 7 p.m. press conference.

While checking the house to see if others were in the same condition, Amann said officers came across what appeared to be a clandestine drug lab.

Investigators ruled out a meth lab, but they did find illegal mushrooms being dried and a large amount of marijuana, he said.

They also found more than 12 different types of chemicals, which are being tested, he said.

The FBI, Pennsylvania State Police and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in to investigate at the home, Amann said. Police also summoned the Allegheny County Bomb Squad and a county Hazmat team.

The only people at home at the time of the party were a 20-year-old who was with a 14-year-old resident, the chief said.

“But the 14-year-old was not down in the game room at the party," Amann said.

A number of party-goers fled when police arrived, but officers interviewed eight people, Amann said.

The two-story, 3,550-square-foot home is owned by Theresa Gaugler, according to Allegheny County property records. Neighbors said Gaugler is divorced and has four daughters and one son.

She is listed on Facebook and Twitter as a Wilhelmina model who described herself as the "White Diamond Vodka" spokesmodel. She could not be reached.

However, an email received from Mark Lucero, president of Beverage Brands Inc., states:

"Theresa Gaugler is not the spokesmodel for the White Diamond Vodka Brand. Aside from a one-time appearance as a model in a television advertisement produced last year for our company, she has no official affiliation with, and in no way represents, our brand of products."

In a follow-up article to this one, I clarified model Theresa Gaugler’s status as a spokesmodel. Here is a link to that article http://patch.com/A-sYJ0

In an email and phone conversation, Gaugler maintained that she was called a spokesmodel in promotional material for a December event at the Wine Loft in Southside.

Gaugler said she put that on her Facebook and Twitter accounts and promoted the event through them.

She emailed me a copy of the party invitation that states: “Enjoy a night of glamour with White Diamond Vokda spokesmodel, Theresa Gaugler on site!!”

Gaugler also supplied a photo of herself at the Wine Loft event. (See above.)

 After Gaugler's name was published as the owner of the home in the April 24 investigation, she said she deactivated her Facebook and Twitter accounts temporarily "because the media was stealing photos to put on the news reports."

 She said she worked for the vodka company from October through Christmas and the ads continued to run after that.

As for being a Wilhemina model, another news source reported that the agency in New York, Los Angeles and Miami said they had no record of her. Gaugler said she works out of Wilhemina’s Columbus office.

 

 Police have filed no charges in the incident, but the chief said that is likely to change.

“Everything is under investigation. We’ll be talking with the district attorney’s office on Monday and charges are pending at this time," said Amann.

The family is not allowed back into the home until a hazmat team cleans it to make it habitable, he said.

Authorities asked neighbors to leave the area for a few hours during the investigation, said Amann. One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said the home has been the site of past parties.

Wexford Volunteer Fire Company and McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority were on standby on Condor Lane from about 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Asked why the investigation took so long, Amann said: “When you deal with explosive materials, you want to be careful because it is very dangerous.”

Check back with Patch for updates.


Original story:

Northern Regional police have blocked off a portion of Condor Lane Saturday while police, fire, bomb squad and hazmat officials investigate a home in the Treesdale community of Pine Township.

The Allegheny County Bomb Squad and an Allegheny County Hazmat team have been at the home in the 2000 block of Condor Lane for several hours. Authorities would not comment on the investigation. 

Neighbors on Condor Lane reported seeing an ambulance sometime after 1 a.m. Saturday after a party at the home. The bomb squad and police arrived later in the morning.  

As of 3 p.m., Wexford Volunteer Fire Co., McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority and a Salvation Army truck—which is providing food and drink for emergency personnel—were standing by. 

Wexford Volunteer Fire Co. was called at 9:48 a.m., a fire official said.

Standing on a lawn with a cluster of other Treesdale neighbors, Joann Reilly said any police presence is unusual in the quiet community.

"It's a very quiet, safe community," she said. "It's a safe place to live. We don't have any problems."

Check back with Patch for updates to this developing story.  

Related Topics: Allegheny County Bomb Squad, Condor Lane, Hazmat, Northern Regional Police, Theresa Gaugler, Treesdale, and White Diamond Vodka

Debra Phelan

5:19 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012

Where was the mother? Someone needs to look into what is going on in her household. Sounds like charges may (and should) be brought against her.

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Petra Fullerton

3:19 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012

Where were the nebby-nosed know-it-alls? Oh, here they are. Try raising kids alone sweetie before you talk against anyone.

Jennifer Shenck

9:29 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012

Article said child left at home was 14. I use babysitters who are 12 or 13 so don't see why it would be a problem for a mother to leave a 14 year old alone. Could happen to anyone I think Pine Twp people are judgemental

Jimmy

10:30 am on Monday, April 30, 2012

@Jennifer - imagine your next-door neighbor has a clandestine drug operation going on and houses materials on site used to manufacture bombs. Now, I ask you, are people there being judgmental?

Tamra Cyr Thorne

1:13 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012

Hopefully a lesson was learned by the kids and the parents on this one!

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Greg

11:11 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Hopefully a lesson learned? Seriously?

Cindy Cusic Micco

9:08 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012

When leaving comments, please remember that no charges have been filed and everyone is presumed innocent. We cannot run comments that assume guilt—there has been no trial.

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Hak

9:20 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Somebody is guilty of something here. That's for sure.

Joe Hunter

9:49 am on Tuesday, May 1, 2012

wow I have seen her in that White Diamond commercial it was running locally for months. plus I met her when she was promoting that vodka at the Wine Loft in Southside a few months ago at a big party. Seemed very sweet and nice. Everyone in this country is presumed innocent but the media is anti american assumes guilt before all facts are in . Is this a third world country or what?

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Theresa

1:04 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

@Joe Yes the photos of the tv commercial and the event and modeling photos are posted above in this article but they haters keep spouting off their misinformed ignorant comments lol

Susan M.

1:05 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Cindy,
I have met you, like you and respect you, but you are doing our community a great disservice by censoring so many comments. My comment should not have been removed. It was what happens in MY HOUSE and was in no way breaking the rules of this forum. I am starting to dislike the PineRichland Patch more and more. I used to talk to everyone about this news outlet, but unfortunately, my statements are turning more negative. I hope that you rethink your censoring tactics.

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Cindy Cusic Micco

1:16 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Thank you for your comment. The only comments I have prevented from going onto this story are the ones that state or imply that a crime has taken place at the Gauglers' home. No one has been charged. My story quotes the police chief as saying what was investigated.

I know one comment I received stated that a parent would know what goes on in his/her house. That is fine. But the rest of the comment implied a criminal act by a member of the Gaugler household. Those are the kinds of comments I do not publish.

Also, readers sometimes flag comments as inappropriate and they are deleted. I do not control that.

I hope this is helpful. If you need a more detailed explanation, please call me at 724-799-9982. Thanks!

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Janet Butler

12:12 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

I agree!!! I had 2 comments deleted and I have no idea why? They put controversial articles on here, and then make comments on FB asking what we think? I just gave my opinion on the lacking mothering skills of this woman, and I guess the censor is a friend of hers??

Susan M.

1:05 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I am just wondering if the editor is friends with this family ??

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Cindy Cusic Micco

1:18 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

No. Never met them. Never heard of them until Saturday.

Susan M.

9:54 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Cindy,
This is the comment that was not allowed. My son is 19 years old, the Gaugler boy is 20. I do not understand why my comment was not allowed. I am reposting it here:
"I think I would know if that type of stuff was in my house. AND I would know if my 19 year old son was holding a drinking party. Whether I was there or not."

Cindy Cusic Micco

10:11 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Susan,
Thank you for clarifying.

When I originally read the comment, I thought you were implying that the Gaughlers' son held a drinking party. Most readers don't know that you have a 19-year-old or that the Gaughlers' son is 20.

I can see clearly now what point you are making. Again, thank you for clarifying.

Cindy

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Cindy Cusic Micco

3:49 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012

The latest story confirms that the 20-year-old at the house when police arrived around 1 a.m. Saturday was a friend of the Gauglers, not a family member. Here is a link to the story:
http://patch.com/A-sYJ0

Thomas Perko

8:37 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012

The biggest downfall of this website is the comment censorship. This isn't court, comments made here aren't going to influence the investigation.

Cindy Cusic Micco

3:47 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012

The latest story has been published at this link:
http://patch.com/A-sYJ0

Just Wondering

12:57 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012

Jan5432124 minutes ago

A few years back, I discovered who Theresa Gaugler is when I noticed that she was a friend of my son on facebook. At the time, my son was in 8th grade and thought that maybe she was a college student that had graduated from the Pine Richland School district. She and my son had HUNDREDS of friends in common from the Middle School and High School. When I clicked on her profile, I instantly blocked her from my son's friends list. I reported her to facebook but it didn't seem to matter. I waited my turn for her to accept my friend invitation, which took awhile since she is at the 5000 friend maximum level. Watching her on facebook was like watching a reality TV show. Party, Party, Party was her way of life. A life that she promoted on facebook for all 5000 friends to see. Alway sending out invites to party with her and for those of us that couldn't she provided pictures. She would broadcast almost every week about her trips to Palm Beach, Miami, New York, Peurto Rico and Mexico with her manfriends in his private jet. For a person that loved being so public, why is she so private now?

Just Wondering

12:57 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012

A few years back, I discovered who Theresa Gaugler is when I noticed that she was a friend of my son on facebook. At the time, my son was in 8th grade and thought that maybe she was a college student that had graduated from the Pine Richland School district. She and my son had HUNDREDS of friends in common from the Middle School and High School. When I clicked on her profile, I instantly blocked her from my son's friends list. I reported her to facebook but it didn't seem to matter. I waited my turn for her to accept my friend invitation, which took awhile since she is at the 5000 friend maximum level. Watching her on facebook was like watching a reality TV show. Party, Party, Party was her way of life. A life that she promoted on facebook for all 5000 friends to see. Always sending out invites to party with her and for those of us that couldn't she provided pictures. She would broadcast almost every week about her trips to Palm Beach, Miami, New York, Puerto Rico and Mexico with her manfriend in his private jet. For a person that loved being so public, why is she so private now?

Susan M.

10:42 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

I do not know the mother, so I can not form an opinion on her personally. However, I think children need discipline, love and support from their parent/parents. I know if I was out partying all of the time and vacationing all over the US and Mexico, that would leave me little time to spend with my family. I sure hope these kids get a better role model before they end up losers.

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SarahG

11:05 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

If you don't know the mother you should reserve judgment. The truth of the matter is that Theresa has SHARED custody with her husband and doesn't even have her children every other weekend they go to her ex's house and she is free to travel wherever she wants. There is nothing in the custody arrangement that says on her free weekends she has to remain in Pittsburgh! Seriously sounds to me like a lot of judgemental jealous haters on this site! the kids range in age from 14 to 21 and most of them have lived away on their own at college for a couple years. Definitely not little kids in need of sitters either.

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Greg

11:11 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

At 53, youd think it would be time to grow up....

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joanie

6:03 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012

Agree with you. They already seem to have major problems due to lack of parenting and good role models.

Susan M.

11:19 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Well obviously, Sarah G, she HAD custody the weekend of this incident, but certainly wasn't spending quality time with her children, so what's your point? Judgemental haters? Just stating the obvious.

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Janet Butler

1:37 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

Really, those "children" had no supervision, or how would they have all those kids there partying and running when the police show up; and how many times had the police been there previously??? 7 times???

joanie

6:03 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012

give me a BREAK! This woman couldn't care less about her children, or spending time with them. Ever read their Twitter comments? They all have nasty mouths on them, for such young girls. Very sad and a direct link to lack of parenting. Also, in the article you can see she never represented the White Diamond brand, and I actually know for a fact she misrepresented herself as a "Wilhelmina Model" on her Twitter, then deleted it when the agency had NO RECORD of her. Sounds like she likes to tell stories. Well, here's your biggest story Theresa, and Google is eating it right up. I hope that makes you happy as a Mother. Wow, just wow.

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Theresa

1:04 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

APPARENTLY JOANIE (not her real name) DID NOT SEE THE UPDATED STORY AND PHOTOS (ABOVE) SHOWING THERESA AS THE WHITE DIAMOND MODEL AND CLARIFYING SHE WAS WITH WILHELMINA S2 IN COLUMBUS OHIO A SIGNED MODEL IN LIFESTYLES DIVISION.

Cindy Cusic Micco

6:29 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012

A number of things have been written about Theresa Gaugler’s role as a Wilhemina model and a spokesmodel for a vodka company. 
I reported she was listed on Facebook and Twitter as a Wilhelmina model who described herself as the "White Diamond Vodka" spokesmodel. 
However, an email received from Mark Lucero, president of Beverage Brands Inc., stated she is not the spokesmodel for the vodka. 
"Aside from a one-time appearance as a model in a television advertisement produced last year for our company, she has no official affiliation with, and in no way represents, our brand of products," Lucero's email said. 
In an email and phone conversation, Gaugler maintains she was called a spokesmodel in promotional material for a December event at the Wine Loft in Southside. 
She emailed me a copy of the party invitation that states: “Enjoy a night of glamour with White Diamond Vokda spokesmodel, Theresa Gaugler on site!!” 
Gaugler said she promoted the event on her FB and Twitter accounts. 
After the April 24 investigation, she said she deactivated her Facebook and Twitter accounts temporarily "because the media was stealing photos to put on the news reports." 
She said she worked for the vodka company from October through Christmas and the ads continued to run after that. 
As for being a Wilhemina model, another news source reported agencies in NY, Philadelphia and Miami said they had no record of her. Gaugler said she works out of Wilhemina’s Columbus office.

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Susan M.

1:04 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

I am surprised that she is spending so much time defending her spokesmodel and Wilhemina model reputation. Maybe laying low and handling her family situation would be a better choice.

Theresa

1:04 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

this woman who calls herself "Joanie" instead of using her real name is going around website to website spending hours writing little erroneous comments. Apparently has ZERO life of her own so spreading her little desperate housewife gossip and getting it wrong. Ms. Micco has been forwarded all the documents proving my appearance for white diamond vodka at the wine loft event where I signed autographs and had my picture taken with fans and raffled off bottles of vodka, as well as actual proof of the successful tv commercial I did for white diamond vodka that has been running almost daily since October. I also my comp card photo and vital statistics for wilhelmina modeling agency s2 in Columbus Ohio for the past year I am a current signed model with that location, not NY or FL. (See Pics shown at the top of this article) So get over yourself and get back to your own "life" instead of wasting valuable time worrying what I'm doing.

Janet Butler

2:46 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

wow, no words. Not one mention of her children and the numerous police calls to her home, including the most recent incident where someone od'd and could have died if not for the concerned neighbors. It seems to just be all about her and where you can find pictures of her??!! I really don't think anyone cares about that. The welfare and safety of her children should be top priority. So sad for her children.

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Cindy Cusic Micco

2:50 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

No one overdosed at the home. A 20-year-old man was taken away by ambulance with a blood alcohol level of .366.

The editor has closed comments for this article.